ISSUE NO. 17
December 2025
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Letters

‘You Got This, Aye!’

By
Belly

Belly writes from a prison in QLD.

Willy Pleasance

To the editors of About Time,

I just received a copy of Issue 15 and once again I have a near overwhelming feeling of enthusiasm. Thank you.

I have a short poem as well as a mindfulness technique called “Distress Tolerance”.

S top, don’t react or let your emotions take over

T ake a step back, breath in, breath out

O bserve your body’s sensations

P roceed with your thoughts or actions

Do this with small events to begin with. Eventually this will become instinct. You got this, aye. Onya.

Poem

Empathy vs Sympathy

There are four stages to empathy

Sympathy is cut and dry

Recognising others’ feelings

When you see others cry

The capacity to take perspective

The desire is to act

Just recognising distress

Is recognising fact

Thanks guys.

Regards,

Belly

To the editors of About Time,

I just received a copy of Issue 15 and once again I have a near overwhelming feeling of enthusiasm. Thank you.

I have a short poem as well as a mindfulness technique called “Distress Tolerance”.

S top, don’t react or let your emotions take over

T ake a step back, breath in, breath out

O bserve your body’s sensations

P roceed with your thoughts or actions

Do this with small events to begin with. Eventually this will become instinct. You got this, aye. Onya.

Poem

Empathy vs Sympathy

There are four stages to empathy

Sympathy is cut and dry

Recognising others’ feelings

When you see others cry

The capacity to take perspective

The desire is to act

Just recognising distress

Is recognising fact

Thanks guys.

Regards,

Belly

Sistas, Support Each Other!

By Anonymous

This letter is to remind you all that, as Sistas, we need to be there for one another to raise women up.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 23

2 MIN READ

Strip Searches

By Nikita

It’s daunting enough when you get arrested by police, then placed into custody and thrown into a cell. Then you have to go through a degrading strip search.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 23

1 MIN READ

If It’s Broken, Then Fix It

By Andrew

I’ve spent most of my adult life behind bars, and I’m not proud to say it. It’s been such a bloody waste.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 23

3 MIN READ

Routine is Good, Not Bad

By Dane

Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time in prison can relate to the concept of prison rituals and routines.

Letters

ISSUE NO. 23

3 MIN READ

Welcome to About Time

About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

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Without About Time, I don’t know where I would be – Mark, from a prison in Victoria

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